First Impression: The Ghost in The Shell (2026)

The year is 2029, and the world is in the throes of cyberization as humanity upgrades itself with physical and mental enhancements. Tech corporations have extended their reach to the stars, yet the distinctions of nations and ethnic groups have not yet been left behind. And in the metropolis of Niigata, there is a high-risk defection from Japan currently in play. Daisuke Aramaki of the Ministry of Home Affairs is determined to stop it, even if it means taking on a thug-like CEO with a strong Russian accent (in the English dub, at least). He’s about to be overpowered when suddenly, a voice resonates from nowhere, and in a flash, the executions begin, leaving pretty much everyone who is not Aramaki quite gruesomely and emphatically dead. Aramaki peers out the shattered window of the high-rise only to see a woman plummeting…and becoming invisible right before his eyes! (Pause for epic slo-mo shot.) The next day, he’s ordered to form a new public defence task force; his partner in this venture? That very same woman! Major Matoko Kusanagi comes with a crew of misfits by her side and some pretty impressive tech in hand, including four-legged spider-like personal vehicles that speak with cutesy voices and somehow have mouths (with tongues!). She also comes with a short temper, crude sense of humor, and an annoying habit of referring to Aramaki as the ape. Sigh. Will the newly minted Section 9 of the Security Division really be able to put an end to cybercrime and corruption? Or will it all lead to nothing more than a self-inflicted punch to the face? (Yes, this. This happens.)

The first two episodes of Science Saru’s GiTS reboot are currently enjoying theatrical release, along with a half-hour “making of” documentary, in advance of the official premiere. And based on them, I can say with confidence that this is going to be a fun reboot! And that should tell any existing fan of the franchise everything you need to know—because “fun” is hardly a word that one would use to describe Oshii’s 1995 dark, moody film adaptation, but it is quite apt for the source material, the 1989-91 manga by Shirow Masamune, which is shot through with gags and goofiness and that particular brand of risqué that is common to Bubble-era series, as much as it is with cyberpunk prescience. For manga fans who have been longing for the goofy Kusanagi, the zany expressions, or the impossibly spiky bangs that could only exist in the 80s (please, let this remain true), they’re all here in this stylish, nostalgic Science Saru adaptation! The entire team behind this reboot, from fledgling director Moko-chan to screenwriter Toh EnJoe, and all three (!!) composers, Taisei Iwasaki (Scarlet, Belle, Metallic Rouge), Yuki Kanasaki (Dr. Stone), Ryo Konishi (Kill Blue) made it their number one priority to stick as close to the manga as possible. Whenever they encountered ambiguous frames, or the need to make a call on which direction to go with something, they would refer to Shirow’s interviews, writings, and entire oeuvre of manga to decide how to handle it. If it’s fidelity you’re looking for, then I daresay you can’t get much better than this!

But there’s more to recommend the series than fidelity. As a studio, Science Saru seems incapable of producing flat-footed animation, instead allowing each project to dictate a unique, memorable style suited to the material, whether it be a manga adaptation (like DanDaDan or Sanda) or not (like The Heike Story). The only house rules they seem to have when it comes to style is to make it bold, make it bright, and make sure it has a high-velocity impact on the eye. In other words, TGiTS looks good. The action is punchy and slick, and the editing sharp and to the point. The character designs lean hard into caricature, rather than realism, taking inspiration from the first volume of the manga (for instance, Daisuke “the ape” Aramaki really does look monkeyish, fitting for a studio named Saru!), and not only is it satisfyingly nostalgic (Lyrical Girl Nanoha and the entire population of Key, is that you???) but it also works really well with the more playful tone. The pacing is great, the humor generally lands, and the more lighthearted take on, let’s be honest, a rather worrying posthumanist vision of the world is refreshing. 

Also in keeping with tradition for the studio, the music is fantastic! It has a lot to live up to, given the musical legacy of this franchise, but manages to take things in a fresh direction (big band jazz! organic analog electronic! 80s lounge with a modern vibe!) while cueing up some tracks that will no doubt hold their own alongside the works of Kanno and Kawai. (The preview did not include the OP or ED though, so no idea whether there’s another Origa-level banger in store here.) The voice acting of the English dub cast is stellar, demonstrating just how far the industry has come since the international release of Oshii’s 1995 cult classic. The characters are also more rounded here than in Oshii’s adaptation, thanks in part to the space that writing for a series allows, as opposed to a film, but also due to the concerted efforts of Mako-chan and EnJoe, who sought to draw out the dual-sidedness of each member of Shirow’s cast, particularly Kusanagi. But be warned, not everything that goes on in Kusanagi’s head is G-rated! There’s a beach scene in episode 2 that heats up with alarming speed before being interrupted (and revealed to be a VR game she’s playing with two “lady friends”), for instance. Science Saru does not shy away from spicy visuals, as seen with Sanda, so this is probably not one for younger viewers. 

Now for the elephant in the room: For those who, like me, come to TGiTS via Oshii’s 1995 cult classic, this is not the Major we know and love.

Gone is the silent brooding, the restrained stoicism, the hard-hitting realism of someone roiling beneath the surface with deep-seated questions on the nature of humanity, its evolution, and aspirations of transcendence. And I’ll be honest, I miss that Kusanagi. I also wonder how well the heavier philosophical material of GiTS—which is largely what makes it so appealing, imho—will sit with the markedly lighter, brighter, bouncier mood of the reboot. That said, if anyone can pull it off, the “making of” documentary for the series has convinced me that it would be this creative team! 

Maybe she can still brood…

So, will I be watching this one? I’ll certainly give it a couple more episodes. But I’ll admit, I’m pretty invested in Oshii’s GiTS and, more to the point, his Kusanagi, so this more irreverent turn on her may just be too much, particularly if the erotic scenes persist. One thing is for sure, though: unlike the plague of reboots currently dragging Hollywood down the drain, this reboot does a great job of offering up a fresh, grounded, and exciting new vision of a monumental franchise. And that definitely makes it one to check out!

Ok ok, Major, I’ll watch!

The Ghost in the Shell: Preview is in select theaters now, while the series will premiere on streaming (Amazon Prime) on July 7.

claire
Latest posts by claire (see all)

Leave a Reply